(1) The objective of the State Board of Towing is to safeguard the health, safety, and public welfare of the people of Oregon by:
- (a) Providing education to the public and the towing industry;
- (b) Establishing professional industry standards;
- (c) Investigating complaints and concerns of the public regarding the towing industry; and
- (d) Enforcing the laws and administrative rules regulating the towing industry in Oregon.
(2) Considerations for the protection of the safety and wellbeing of the public include:
- (a) Standards and classifications for professional tow trucks and equipment used for commercial towing and recovery operations is essential.
- (b) Encouragement of a competitive and trained professional towing industry by establishing a uniform and equitable system for the standardization and regulation of the tow industry.
- (c) The use of nonqualified tow truck companies or private motor vehicles to tow or recover for hire or compensation.
- (d) A private citizen, a tower, or tow truck company responding in good faith to life-threatening emergency situations.
(3) Every tow in Oregon is authorized:
- (a) With the informed consent of the vehicle owner, operator, or the person who has legal control and custody of the vehicle, OR
- (b) Under the legal authorization of law enforcement, other agency, or property owner, or the property owner’s agent, or other person with the legal authority to have the vehicle towed or impounded, OR
- (c) Under the direction of the vehicle owner's service representative.
- (4) Towers cannot independently identify vehicles to be towed for the purpose of creating their own towing business or soliciting towing business when prohibited by law.
Statutory/Other Authority
ORS 822.265, ORS 98.853, ORS 98.854, ORS 98.856, ORS 822.275, ORS 822.285, ORS 822.290 & ORS 822.995
Statutes/Other Implemented
ORS 822.265
History
SBOT 1-2025, amend filed 12/31/2025, effective 01/01/2026
SBOT 1-2023, adopt filed 10/31/2023, effective 01/01/2024